Rhythm is Life, Life is Rhythm
Special Hand-Worked Artist's Edition
Find a full image below including gilding that I now include on every print.
Archival giclée on 140 lb watercolour paper. Size (approximately): 16” x 31” / 41 x 79 cm
Exact dimensions may vary slightly as each print is hand-trimmed individually.
Edition limited to 150 prints.
Innovative Technique
I print these on hand-painted paper with sgraffito etched into thickly painted gesso (see details and a video below). I then hand-coat the stretched sheet and drop flecks of gold and aluminium leaf onto it (silver leaf tarnishes—aluminium is preferable). The edges are carefully hand-torn for a softer, handmade appearance. The result is stunning: a unique blend of hand-work with a super-fine print.
Description
The word "rhythm" is written twice around an abstract brushstroke. The patterns of repetition that define the rhythm are more complex here than in traditional writing, which aspires to a regular texture of evenly spaced, marching letters. Here it is a polyrhythmic dance rather than a march.
Note: Hand painting results in prints that are not 100% flat, but have slight undulations typical of handmade art. This should be considered a quality, not a flaw, and will easily be managed by any picture framer accustomed to handling original art. The framing should not allow the art surface to touch the picture glazing. I generally use a slip of balsa wood hidden under the lip of the frame for this purpose. A good fine-art framer can advise you better than a general picture framer of posters.
LONG-LASTING ARCHIVAL MEDIA
Printed from an Epson SC P800 using Epson’s 9-color UltraChrome ink system at 2880 dpi on painted Bockingford 140 lb acid-free watercolour paper, with custom coatings added by the artist.
A video revealing some of the detail
The detail above, photographed in raking light, reveals hand-painting and sgraffito that was scratched into the wet gesso before printing. The image below was photographed backlit for an even more exaggerated view. In normal light, these details are clear enough when viewing an original.